This is a figurative clay dinosaur by Jennifer Tafoya.  Jennifer has created a unique group of dinosaur figures and vessels for our show, “Land of the Lost”.  This figure is an Ankylosaurus.  The figure is all constructed with native clay and there are nine spines on the side along with the ones on the end of the tail.  It is amazing that they didn’t crack in drying or firing!  They are each slipped with mica.  Note how she even gave the tail a sense of motion!  The figure is fully polished on the back and it is etched with thunder and cloud designs.  The head is also polished and designed.   There are also additional spines on the front legs.  The colors are all derived from natural clay slips.  The piece is signed on the bottom, “Jennifer Tafoya”.

Jennifer says of her dinosaur figures

“I have always been a huge fan of dinosaurs.  I didn’t have a bunch of dolls, I had dinosaurs.  If my mother would give me a Barbie doll, I’d give it to my sister.  I think working with animals that lived millions of years ago is fascinating and it’s fun learning how they lived.”